[Closed] Helvellyn. Best campsite? Best route?

There is a campsite just opposite (on the opposite coast) where the ullswater steamers go from at Glenridding. Not sure what it's called but always seems busy...was there in early May (not staying at that campsite) and earlier this week and was pretty busy both times. I'm sure if you Google Maps it it will show up.

Gillside campsite is right at the bottom of Helvelyn in Glenridding and an easy walk from the pub....

Think the one wobbliscott mentioned is side farm, patterdale.

Gillside is nice enough and perfectly situated if you're heading up that way...

Gillside is the closest to Helvellyn and very handily placed for the Traveller’s Rest pub...almost too handy in fact 🍺😉

Ride from the door, you say? I'd be in the Helvellyn YHA.

But then I hate camping 🙂

ads678, that sounds about right. Looks like a nice enough site, but if there is one close to a pub then that would be a win for me. The one I mentioned is a good 10 - 15 minute stroll to a pub.

When we were there in early May we walked unto Red Tarn and parked at the Helvellyn YHA and stopped off there for a drink after the walk. Looks like a good spot to stay and have a couple of those clamping pod things in the garden which would be my preference if staying there. They also serve beer so ticks the box in that regard.

Route-wise - Best to do a double to make a day of it, so from Glenridding go up Keppel Cove, down the Wythburn descent, up Sticks Pass from Grasmere then to summit.

Then you have choice of down Sticks & Seldom Seen or Dollywaggon & Grisedale Tarn descent.

Both have their pros and cons, the former being more singletrack-y and the latter more steppy and waterbar-y at the top but with the single best bit of trail on the hill (and perhaps in the Lakes) after the tarn.

HTH

Thread resurrection.

Been asked loads before I guess, but if we're just going to do a single up and down what's everyone's opinion on the best route in terms of smiles per mile?

We're both OK riders and relatively comfortable on rocky tech (have done stuff like Ranger's, Fort William, Chamonix, etc.).

Thanks all.

Up kepple Cove. Go up to the summit take pics and come back down to sticks pass. Dollywaggon and Grizedale was too stop start get off walk a bit start again for me. I like speed.

We did as Jekkyl suggests, a couple of weeks back. Nice ride, about 10 miles long with some varied terrain.

Can't help you with route. Campsite, lane head farm is superb.

What jekkyl said but part way down sticks pass turn off and go down seldom seen.

For a 3/4 double up keppel cove to the summit, down birkside then road along to grassmere then take the path / bridle way back to grisedale tarn, then descend back to glenridding. 2 cracking descents and only about 4500ft of climbing / hike a bike.

up keppel cove to the summit of Helvellyn, down birkside then left road along to grassmere then take the path / bridle way back to grisedale tarn, then descend back to glenridding. 2 cracking descents and only about 4500ft of climbing / hike a bike.

This^^ or go up Dunmail raise to Grisdale Tarn (Hike a Bike) then descend Patetrdale Common. If you still have some in your legs, head right at the road after Patterdale Common, over to crookabeck and then double back left up the BW to Boredale Hause. Quick descent back to Rooking and on to Glenridding

So, last question I promise.

Heading up tomorrow to do this.

Plan is up Keppel Cove and down Sticks Pass into Seldom Seen.

Is it best to turn straight onto the Seldom Seen cheeky where the Sticks Pass trail turns south, or run down that last bit of Sticks Pass back to the main track into Glenridding (looks steep and switchbacky from the OS map) and then head back up to the turn off for Seldom Seen?

What's the best bang for our buck?

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I did this exact route on saturday. we turned left at the bridge halfway down sticks (where the dashed black line is on that screen shot - my resolution isnt great) and around the side of Sheff Pike. Seldom seen was absolutely superb - big rocks, bit of (mini) exposure, steep. Just brilliant. Enjoy! Im off work tomorrow and looking to plan a route as rewarding as this.

DickyDutch we’re off to do the same route on Friday & I’ve heard theres a farmer who’s often around the bottom of seldom seen & very grumpy. Any problems?

Didn't encounter any issues at the bottom yesterday. Admittedly we didn't get down there until well after 8.00pm.

Sadly didn't get right to the top. Got up onto the ridge about 7.30pm and conditions (wind and visibility) were not great - the sensible thing was to turn right at the top of Keppel Cove and just head up over Raise and down Sticks Pass rather than go left and try to bag Helvellyn first.

Still got a great couple of descents in. Loved Seldom Seen myself over Sticks Pass but my riding mate felt the opposite.

Feeling the need to go back in better weather and actually get to the summit.

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http://vimeo.com/349767698

Ha! I've been up there 3 times and each time it was Summer in Glenridding but twice it was mad windy up top.

Haven't tried the Birkside suggestion so we'll try that next 🙂

Thanks for thr info Colournoise might give it a go tomorrow though suffering a bit from long day out from Rossett Gill, sty Tarn to Langstrath & then up & down sticks Gill/pass. Easy for some I’m sure but felt like hard work to me!